What we see with our eyes tells us there is more to life than what we see.

Considerations when building a Tiki 46. What I have changed or would do differently.

1.Place the rope traveler in front of the stern beam so that things can be attached to the rear beam and not be hit by the traveler.

2. Make the aft end of the tillers 3"longer so I could drill a hole in each for the trimtabs of the wind vane system.

3. Make the rudders straight on the back edge so that its easy to attach the trim tabs.

4. We made the deck pod about 11 feet wide in the back and the cockpit about 11 feet wide in the front and are happy with it.

5. We made the deckpod about 5" taller in the back. 48" tall at the back edge of the mast case(full width of the plywood sheet just in front of the door/passage from port to starboard).

6. At many of the upper bulkheads with cutouts they are about 4 inches wide. I would make them 8 inches wide so that shelves can butt up against them easily without any fancy flairing. Functional shelving is important for my family.

7. When coating plywood with epoxy prior to use on the boat we frequently used a large drywall taping knife instead of a brush or roller to spread the epoxy.

8. The plastic popsickle stick works great and can be used again and again and again.

9. We put a hardwood re-enforcement in the midship for a cleet.(per Ann and Nevills rec). We should have changed the softwood center strip on the bow and stern to hardwood for the same reason(now our stern cleats are off center and I still have to put on bow cleats)

10. We made the tiller arms with tapered pieces inside and no gaps. The only hole in the tiller is for the rudder. We then glassed them.

Comment Wall (7 comments)

Hi Jeff,
Those are the Bylin family of Massachusetts and they are building a Tiki 46 with their three lovely daughters just across the line north of Providence about an hour away from our summer mooring. They are from South Africa. He is a BBQ champion and together they can cook up incredible meals for the picnics we all like to have among the New England Tiki 46 group of builders. They all have something to say and it is always fun with them around. Their kids are about the same age as yours. The parents said if the kids wanted to come sail, they could help build the boat or else pay for the cruising like regular customers. Everybody is helping! I think the oldest girl is in college but living at home. They decorate the bow nicely.
Ann and Nev

Hi Jeff and Sue and girls,
Good to hear from you. I was in Arcadia last summer and looked you up in the phone book. When I got the disconnected message it gave me a great big grin because I knew it meant that you had all moved aboard and were long gone.
You might have seen our new boat on a mooring in West Grand Traverse Bay near the coal dock a few years ago. I too had noticed that it hadn't gone in the water for a couple years so I found out who owned it and called him up, thinking I may be able to get a deal on it since it was just sitting in the boat yard. Believe it or not, the guy just gave it to me. I'm starting to believe in Bill's Manjack Magic theory that, if you wish for something hard enough, it will appear. There was certainly nothing I wanted more than a Wharram, and now I own one. We're going to haul it out this winter and add a pod, a galley, an engine nacelle and change the masts. We have one house almost sold, one house almost finished and the newest member of our crew due in January. The plan is to be living aboard by early next summer.
Abby and Scarlet and I would love to see you guys and take you for a sail. I'm sure you would have some good suggestions about how to fix up the boat. How long are you in Arcadia? Did you bring Kittiwake north or is she still down south? Give us a call.
231-342-6335
Brian, Abby, Scarlet and baby

Hi,
wonderful to be able to 'take a sail" with you all via the video. It would look good with a Bahamian island in the distance too! Lake Worth to Great Sale, to Green Turtle. Try it! Love, ann and Nev

The boat is in Pensacola. We plan to splash again on feb 2nd. We had plans for central America, but famiy members are wanting to fly down and see us in march and april. So we will go to the Keys and then the banamas-Nassau or Exumas. From there we are no quite sure.

No comments yet!

You need to be a member of Wharram Builders and Friends to add comments!